Greg and Jeff
Dear Expectant Mother:
Allow yourself to take a deep breath – you’re about to make one of the most courageous yet difficult decisions of your life, but you are choosing not to do it alone – and that’s amazing! Now that we are joining paths, we wanted to share our journey that led us here to you. As you continue to travel, we want you to know how grateful and honored we would be if you selected us to walk alongside you.
About Us:
Thanks to online dating, and a couple of swipes, we met in October 2014 in Chicago. Greg was new to town and looking for friends and was intrigued by Jeff’s profile that noted interests of “Wisconsin Badgers, volleyball and beer.” We hit it off immediately, connecting over our mutual experiences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (just one year apart), our love of travel, and a strong desire for a family. Fast forward to 2020, and we were married by Greg’s sister-in-law in Jeff’s parents’ backyard. In 2021, we celebrated our reception at a brewery in Illinois.
We’re both outgoing people with many shared interests. We regularly compete on a volleyball team, read a variety of books with our book club, and especially love wearing a variety of costumes! Cooking is one of our favorite activities to do together, and we look forward to sharing this love with our child, much like our parents did with both of us. When not visiting family, we love to see a new city each year – but only when planned out with a highly color- coded and organized agenda!
About Greg:
I’ve always called the entire Midwest “Home”, as I lived in 6 different cities growing up. This experience shaped me into the outgoing, flexible, and adventurous person that I am today! I finished high school and college in Wisconsin, graduating with degrees in Finance and Accounting – but not before a semester in Italy enjoying some authentic pasta and vino.
Following graduation, I moved to Chicago to work for an accounting firm, where I passed my Accountant exams (yay nerd!) After several companies and roles, I moved into sales at Ferrara Candy Company – selling Nerds, SweeTarts, and other candy – bringing joy (and cavities) to people nationwide. Our nieces and nephews (niblings) lovingly call me “Uncle Wonka” when I visit with bags of candy! I look forward to visiting my 2 older siblings and 6 niblings in Ohio and North Carolina (where my parents also reside) for birthdays and holidays.
In my free time, I love watching a thriller or documentary or listening to a podcast – shout-out to the true crime genre! I’m also looking for any experience around Chicago – a rodeo in the suburbs, street festival, even a Little Mermaid-themed cocktail experience. Jeff and I look forward to sharing a whole host of new experiences (and all the delicious candy) with the newest member of our family!
About Jeff:
Unlike Greg, I grew up in one place – Winfield, a suburb of Chicago – with my parents and younger sister. Summers were spent at my grandparents’ vacation trailer park community on the shores of Michigan, where I made lifelong friends. Greg and I are eager to introduce our little one into our loving and supportive community! Now that they are retired, my parents split their time between there and their home in Georgia.
Growing up, my family attended service frequently at our Lutheran church, which instilled in me a deep sense of community and helping others. In high school, I was a self-proclaimed band geek, and in what I still consider a logical move, chose extra math and science courses over gym. I went on to study Biomedical Engineering, combining my love for service and all things nerdy.
Since graduating, I’ve worked in the medical device industry, developing everything from hearing aids to IV bags. Ironically, I lost most of the hearing in my left ear five years ago— my niblings now affectionately call me “Uncle Deaf.” Today, I’m the lead engineer of a company that develops treatments for hydrocephalus – a chronic condition where there is excess fluid on the brain.
In my free time, I embrace my ever-curious “Mad Scientist” side, tinkering with projects like candle-making and kombucha brewing. It’s a mix of science, creativity, and occasional explosions (more like fizzles…)—just how I like it!
Our Community:
We have resided in our apartment in Lakeview for almost 10 years, in an area that is family- friendly – our street constantly sees new strollers – and offers a variety of restaurants, busy parks and growing businesses. While we look to eventually upsize with our expanding family, we plan to stay local in the near-term due to the numerous daycares and great schools nearby, along with our closest friends living within walking distance.
Our network of Chicago friends is tight knit but continues to expand. We’ve been part of a Book Club for the past ten years and recently surpassed our 100th book! Moreover, we like to keep our bellies full by exploring a new restaurant with 2 friends every month – we call ourselves the “Taste Buds.” In addition to our friends, Jeff has a very large extended family that resides in the suburbs. We see them a few times throughout the year at weddings, holiday gatherings, and a Family reunion every summer! While none of our immediate family live nearby, Jeff’s parents come in often throughout the summers when in Michigan.
Our values:
We were raised in loving, devoted families with similar values, including family time, open communication, and kindness. Family time has always been an expectation in both of our upbringings in many ways – ranging from family dinners and attending each other’s extracurricular events to spending holidays together. We are excited to share family time traditions with our child such as decorating our Christmas Tree together the week after Thanksgiving and having fondue on Christmas Eve! Along with quality time, having open communication is essential to maintaining happy and healthy relationships. On top of all else, we value kindness – treating others respectfully and with dignity is what makes the world a better place! These are values we live by and look to instill in our child, much like it was by our parents. Our primary goal as parents is to raise each child to be kind and empathetic and to exhibit humility, humanity, and integrity in all that they do.
Closing:
Thank you – truly – for taking the time to consider us. While we cannot fully understand the difficulty of the decision that lies ahead of you, just know that we are here as companions, if you’ll have us. Please know that we already appreciate you, and we hope to be able to share more about our story and learn about yours. As future parents we are fully committed to raising a child with all the unconditional love that we have.
To learn more about us, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. You can also contact our adoption counselor, Linda Fiore, by email ([email protected]) and/or text at 773-919-5702. The toll-free number for ACFB is also available to call at 1-800- 869-1005.
